In 2016 I finished both my medical degree and my nutrition degree. I worked closely with obesity medicine specialists and bariatric surgeons. I worked one on one counseling patients on weight loss using the most up-to-date strategies, and yet my waistline continued to expand.

By the start of residency, I was experiencing a new symptom, HANGRY. If I was late for lunch, I would get brain fog and could not focus. I became irritable and anxious without food. I was constantly cold and always hungry. I developed eczema. I was sicker and heavier than ever before in my life, despite mindful eating, despite hours of meal prep, and despite diligently counting calories.

I felt broken. If I couldn’t help myself, how was I going to help anyone else? I started reading books. I kept learning, and finally, something clicked. I realized it’s not about physics and energy balance. It’s about biochemistry and metabolism. Food triggers hormones and hormones control how the body functions.

Within months of this epiphany, I went from a size 16 to a size 8. I was no longer hungry or cold, but satisfied and comfortable. I could effortlessly remember things and my focus sharpened. I felt like I could control my anxiety and impulsive sensations. Best of all, I rediscovered self-confidence across all facets of life.

Following residency, I began implementing the metabolic approach in clinical practice as a primary care physician. The outcomes were nothing short of remarkable. Patients not only achieved significant weight loss, but also found relief from a myriad of symptoms. This often resulted in the avoidance, reduction or even elimination of prescription medications and marked enhancements in their overall quality of life.

What I witnessed with this metabolic approach was unlike anything I had encountered during traditional training or modern-day health systems. Determined to bring this care to a broader audience, in 2021 I established Food First MD, a grassroots metabolic medicine practice dedicated to providing this delicious and transformative solution.